Updates

Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

 Programs and Services

The Sports Medicine Program at Texas Children's Hospital utilizes an interdisciplinary approach for the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of young athletes with acute and chronic sports injuries and is the only sports medicine program in the area focused solely on the unique needs of the pediatric athlete. Our board-certified sports medicine doctors work collaboratively with orthopedic surgeons, a pediatric and musculoskeletal fellowship-trained radiologist, sports-focused physical therapists and dietitians, as well as with other Texas Children's Hospital sub-specialists when needed.

Certain childhood fractures need specialized care because children's bones have growth plates, which are areas of growing tissue near the end of bones that allow for growth. Our Orthopedic Fracture Program provides specialized care in evaluating and treating various fractures, including those that involve the growth plate. The physician will make sure the bones heal in proper position either through manipulation and stabilization or possibly surgery.

Patients with scoliosis and other spinal deformities, spinal fractures and back pain receive specialized evaluation, treatment and care from our multidisciplinary team, which includes spine surgeons who conduct approximately 300 spine surgeries annually. The team works closely with families to provide a comprehensive treatment plan for managing spine-related issues. When surgery is necessary, our team collaborates closely with Texas Children’s neurosurgeons, pulmonologists and nutritionists to create the best possible outcomes.

Texas Children’s Cerebral Palsy Clinic evaluates and treats children with cerebral palsy and related conditions that include developmental and learning problems; difficulties with coordination, positioning and mobility; and seizures. The clinic also assists with treating associated conditions and makes recommendations regarding schooling and community resources. Children who will benefit from surgical intervention are assessed and referred to appropriate specialists. 

Houston’s only multidisciplinary hip preservation program focuses on hip preservation and restoring normal function and activities instead of hip replacement. Our program treats patients from birth to 55 years of age for hip pain, injury or any known hip disorder. Our accurate and timely diagnoses along with advanced treatments and therapies may delay or even completely prevent hip arthritis as an adult.

Texas Children’s orthopedic and musculoskeletal teams surgically treat the most complex bone sarcomas (also known as primary bone tumors) and soft tissue sarcomas. They utilize an array of limb-preserving techniques and reconstruction options, and they are intimately involved with the post-operative rehabilitation of our cancer patients affected by these tumors. The orthopedic oncologists are integral members of the Bone Tumor Program and Ewing Sarcoma Center at Texas Children’s Cancer Center.

A diagnosis of spina bifida means lifelong medical attention will be necessary. Comprehensive and personalized care provided by our Spina Bifida Program specialists can give the child the best chance of functioning at their highest level. Patients are followed from birth to 18. Nutrition, social services and physical therapy are also available, along with our Teen Readiness Clinic that helps patients transition to adulthood. Prenatal evaluations are also available by contacting the Texas Children's Fetal Center. 

As part of our comprehensive foot and ankle program, Texas Children's has multiple weekly clubfoot clinics to treat patients of all ages.  The clinics are staffed by subspecialty-trained pediatric orthopedic surgeons and a pediatric orthotist, a pediatric social worker and a pediatric physical therapist. Treatment stages including casting, bracing and long-term follow-up. Expecting mothers can also meet with physicians to discuss the future treatment options for the baby diagnosed with clubfoot in utero. See more at the Texas Children's Fetal Center.

Injury to the brachial plexus – a bundle of nerves located near the neck and upper arm – may cause weakness, pain, sensory loss and functional impairment. Our Brachial Plexus Clinic specialists care for infants and children with these injuries and support families to best assist the child in recovering function. This includes surgical options, therapy assessment, home exercise programs, diagnostic testing and bracing needs. 

Infants, children and young adults with complex lower limb deformities receive comprehensive care in this program. Our individualized treatment plans include both nonoperative and potential operative treatments that can improve differences in function, length and cosmetic appearance. When musculoskeletal congenital differences are found in utero in patients at the Fetal Center at Texas Children's Pavilion for Women, we provide guidance and determine treatment options after birth.

Our surgeons use advanced Orthopedic and Plastic Surgery techniques such as 3D computer-guided deformity correction and lengthening, vascularized bone grafting, and microneurovascular surgery to repair and reconstruct nerve and soft-tissue in a child’s extremities.

Texas Children's Skeletal Dysplasia Program provides diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care for patients from birth to adulthood with abnormalities of skeletal growth and strength. Patients are evaluated for routine, chronic or acute care by geneticists and a team of other specialists. 

Our Musculoskeletal Radiology services are specifically tailored to the needs, ages and sizes of our pediatric patients. The board-certified pediatric radiologists and other physicians in the Department of Radiology provide a full range of subspecialty pediatric musculoskeletal diagnostic and interventional radiology procedures. Their depth of experience results in accurate reading and interpreting the images to assess issues such as sports injuries and growing bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments. 

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